Based on the classic Marvel Comics series, Sam Raimi's SPIDER-MAN deftly
details the origin of the web-slinging superhero. When awkward New York
City teenager Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) attends a class field trip
to a laboratory, he gets bitten by a genetically altered spider while
taking photos of his longtime crush, the lovely Mary Jane Watson
(Kirsten Dunst). Soon he discovers this bite has given him remarkable
powers--heightened strength, dexterity, and awareness, along with the
ability to cling to walls and shoot webs from his wrists. Hoping to win
Mary Jane's heart using his new talents, Peter becomes distracted from
home life with his doting Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben
(Cliff Robertson), ultimately leading to tragedy--and his new role as
the crime-fighting Spider-Man. Meanwhile Harry Osborn (Willem Dafoe),
the industrialist father of Peter's friend Norman (James Franco),
undergoes a transformation of his own, bringing about the creation of
Spider-Man's arch-nemesis: The Green Goblin. In order to save his loved
ones--and all of New York City--from the devastating force of the
deluded Goblin, Spider-Man must take on the villain in a series of
stunning battles.By staying true to the essence of the comic book, Raimi
accomplishes the rare feat of crafting a superhero movie with a real
heart. Rather than focusing solely on action and explosions, SPIDER-MAN
wisely shines the spotlight on the character of Peter Parker, played
with perfect bewilderment by Maguire. The special effects, of course,
are dazzling, but they are topped by an excellent cast that also
includes the radiant Dunst, the menacing Dafoe, the brooding Franco, and
the scene-stealing J.K. Simmons as Peter's tough-talking boss. (Raimi
fans will notice cameos by the director's brother, Ted Raimi, and EVIL
DEAD series star Bruce Campbell.) The result is a charming and amazingly
entertaining film unafraid to combine CGI animation with sincere human
emotion.